Former Alpha Phi sorority leader charged with embezzlement

October 19, 2012

40-year-old Tanya McGinn of North Attleboro, Mass., was arrested and charged with allegedly stealing over $165,000 from URI's Alpha Phi sorority.

KINGSTON-Notices repeatedly sent to a longtime, trusted volunteer at a University of Rhode Island sorority went unanswered for months while she allegedly embezzled more than $165,000 from the house.

Linda Kahangi, executive director of Alpha Phi International, said 40-year-old Tanya McGinn of North Attleboro, Mass., ignored the dozens of certified letters and attorney inquiries sent to her over the last few years.
âWe filed a police report in March of last year after we repeatedly asked for her tax returns,â said Kahangi.
The Rhode Island State Police said Wednesday McGinn was arrested after a year-long investigation into the missing money.
From 2003 to 2010, McGinn was president of a volunteer board that oversaw the housing funds at the sorority.
âShe had been a trusted volunteer for six years,â said Kahangi. âMcGinn was Alpha Phiâs housing corporation representative. She collected the rent, provided the food and paid the bills.â
Police say the money was actually transferred to McGinnâs personal accounts.
âWe hired an auditor to go over the taxes. He went back through all the accounts,â said Khangi.
The missing funds were meant to be used to purchase a new house for the Alpha Phi sorority girls.
âWe are fully insured though so we will be able to recoup our losses,âsaid Khangi.
McGinn was released on $5000 cash bail. She is scheduled to appear in court on October 29.
McGinn lists her job on Facebook as a stylist for home jewelry retailer Stella & Dot.
âI know she was fired from a job at Tufts University in February 2011,â said Kahangi. âHer membership at Alpha Phi has also been revoked.â
According to the public relations office at Tufts University, McGinn was let go from her job as director of Fraternity and Sorority Life on campus there back in February of 2011.
They had no further comment at this time.